WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bread for the World is encouraged by bipartisan efforts in the Senate and by today's statement from President Obama recognizing the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Immigrants have some of the highest food insecurity and poverty rates in the United States.

Bread for the World president Rev. David Beckmann issued the following statement on the issue:

"The Gospel of Matthew invites us to welcome strangers into our midst, saying, 'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.' We must remember that the journey to the United States for jobs is often triggered by poverty, inequality, food insecurity, and a lack of economic opportunity in an immigrant's home country.

"Truly ending hunger means addressing hunger and poverty among all people in the United States and abroad. The proposals released this week are good first steps. However, while we address unauthorized immigration to the United States, we must also focus on the plight of all those in extreme poverty around the world.

"Our country's immigration problem will persist if we do not tackle the root causes of unauthorized immigration."

Bread for the World urges Congress and the president to continue working on immigration reform on a bipartisan basis. For more information on Bread for the World immigration policy, please visit www.bread.org/immigration.

Bread for the World (www.bread.org) is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.